Women and Cardiovascular Disease

A Woman's Heart - Unique Features of Cardiovascular Disease in Women

Heart Attack Symptoms in Women

Differences in the Presentation of a Heart AttackKnowing and acting on the heart-attack symptoms in women and men can mean the difference between life and death. Many women do not recognize the atypical symptoms of a heart attack that often are present in women, or they disregard them as symptoms of other non-life-threatening conditions. While both sexes may have the typical pain, pressure, or discomfort in the chest, women tend to experience these less often than men, and women commonly present with symptoms other than chest pain.

Heart-attack Symptoms in WomenThe most common symptoms of a heart attack are-common in both women and men:1

Discomfort or pain in the chest

Discomfort or pain in the left shoulder, arms, elbows, back, or jaw

Other symptoms of heart attack that are often more common in women than in men include:2,3